1907 Butler Exchange & Soldiers Monument Providence Rhode Island

This postcard from 1907, signed by Theodore Ells, captures a vibrant scene of Providence, Rhode Island, featuring the Butler Exchange and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The Butler Exchange, a prominent commercial building of its time, housed various shops, including The Remnant Shop, known for selling mill remnants of dress goods at reduced prices. This shop catered to a clientele seeking quality materials at affordable rates, reflecting Providence’s prominence in the textile industry during that period. 

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, prominently featured in the postcard, stands as a tribute to the 1,727 Rhode Island veterans who served in the Civil War. Designed by Randolph Rogers, a renowned neoclassical sculptor, the monument is made of blue Westerly granite and bronze. It features allegorical figures representing War, Victory, Peace, and History, with History notably depicted as a Black woman, marking one of the first instances of honoring Black military men in such a manner. The monument also includes panels listing the names of fallen servicemen, including those from the 14th Rhode Island Regiment Heavy Artillery, composed of men of color. Atop the monument is a bronze statue of an allegorical woman representing America, symbolizing the nation’s enduring spirit.

Today, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument still stands in Kennedy Plaza, serving as a historical marker and a piece of public art that continues to honor the sacrifices of Rhode Island’s veterans. The sic story Butler Exchange was on the edge of Exchange Place. Its beautiful Second-Empire-style, iron storefront, was destroyed by a fire in 1925.